Vinyl and CD sales are up again. Fans are excited to buy albums again. And…
Indie artists are still using a digital-only approach.
“...Even though UK vinyl sales in 2023 were at their highest since 1990, a recent Ditto Music report found that only 12.8% of independent artists have released music on vinyl, indicating a gap in their earning potential on this platform.” - Sound on Sound
For all the growth in physical media popularity and sales, indie musicians are under-represented. Why?
Digital distribution seems cheap and easy - a corner to cut in getting your music out there. Does a digital-only release strategy work?
Tony Van Veen from Disc Makers does a great job of comparing the value of CDs versus streaming here. In a nutshell, streaming is fantastic at being portable, marketing your music, and finding new fans.
Digital streaming hasn’t proven to be good at fan engagement. Your fans want a tactile experience. Your fans want to get to know and support you.
And making money with a digital-only release strategy? Relying on micro-pennies isn’t making money for most independent artists.
So here’s the good news:
- Vinyl wait times are down to 6-12 weeks from their pandemic peak of 26 weeks to never
- Compact discs can be pressed and delivered in as little as 1-2 weeks
More good news. Production prices are coming down from pandemic peaks. Compact discs can be pressed in small batches with a nice jacket for less than $3 a disc. Vinyl prices are coming down, too. You can press vinyl at 100 units for $999.
Ready to upgrade your digital-only release strategy to include physical? There's never been a better time than now.
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What is Spinney Media?
For as little as $1.99 a month, we can do it all for you - store, list on multiple marketplaces, collect orders, pick, pack, ship, and provide awesome service to your fans. The best part? You keep 100% of your sales for each and every album you sell.
Interested? Excited?
Join our mailing list at the bottom of our main page. A lucky few will be invited to apply for our alpha and beta tests as we work toward launch. And we’ll keep everyone updated along the way.
I look forward to helping each and every one of you jump into this future - the future of physical fulfillment with Spinney Media.
– Rob
Want to learn more about me and Spinney Media, click here
Interested in partnering with Spinney Media, write me at rob@spinneymedia.com